Bar Chelou

4.8

439 Reviews

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Bar Chelou

4.8

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Pasadena

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 11, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 39 times today

Innovative
Neighborhood gem
Lively

Bar Chelou is a neo-bistro that is both a distillation of Chef Doug Rankin's broad gastronomic interests and a deeply personal expression of his individualistic style.

'Chelou' (French slang for ‘strange’ or ‘unexpected’) is both the name and unifying theme of the restaurant, which draws from a range of culinary traditions and service styles to create something personal, novel, and fun.

The restaurant is located within the Pasadena Playhouse complex. If you plan to visit the Playhouse after dinner, please book a 5:30p reservation to ensure ample timing for your dinner. We also offer concession cocktails before a showing and during intermission.

NEED TO KNOW
Wine corkage is $30 per 750ml bottle with no limit; we do not offer corkage for wines featured on our wine list.

Ample parking is available on surrounding streets and at several paid lots within a one-block radius.

Gift cards are available for purchase on our website.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Contemporary French, European, Spanish
Hours of operation
Daily 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(626) 808-4976
Website
https://www.barchelou.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

Location
37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101-5220
Neighborhood
Pasadena
Cross street
Located next to the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino Ave.
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles

Popular dishes

Marinated Olives$7.00
Pan de Cristal$7.00
Crispy Potatoes$13.00
aonori, aïoli
Clam Toast$15.00
leeks, escabeche
Burrata Toast$17.00
paleta ibérica, pickled peppers
Ramp Toast$16.00
km39, sorrel
Breakfast Radish$13.00
fromage blanc, furikake
Boquerones$14.00
piquillo pepper
Scallop Tartare$20.00
green garlic, meyer lemon, serrano, chips
Salade Verte$15.00
cava vinaigrette, quinoa, guindilla peppers, manchego
Carrots$19.00
coconut dressing, lime leaf, peanuts, shoestring potatoes
Bloomsdale Spinach$14.00
roasted garlic broth, brown butter
Shelling Beans$14.00
bottarga, dill, sea beans
Sprouting Cauliflower$11.00
almonds, sichuan au poivre
Snap Peas$15.00
chistorra, cured egg yolk, anchovy
Squid $21.00
seaweed, swiss chard
Cheeses$22.00
plum & timur berry jam, pan de cristal
Meats$24.00
jamón ibérico, coppa
Ibérico Pork Chop$36.00
cabbage, fennel pollen furikake
Duck Leg$34.00
yu choy cous cous, spicy labneh, macadamia dukkah
Rainbow Trout$45.00
corn rice, garlic chive pil-pil
Dry-Aged Short Rib$55.00
blackberry black vinegar, perilla
Lemon-Chamomile Semifreddo$14.00
calamansi, sweet fritter
Raspberry & Sumac Sorbet$14.00
poached rhubarb, vanilla, sorrel
Bruleed Cheesecake$14.00
toffee date cake, spiced coffee anglaise
Matcha Mousse$14.00
butter mochi cake, coconut sorbet, green tea tuile
Caramelized Banana Bar$15.00
peanut butter crisp, banana custard, milk chocolate mousse

What 439 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Pasadena
Best Overall
Pasadena
Best Food
Pasadena
Best Service
Pasadena
Innovative
Pasadena
Healthy
Pasadena
Hot spot
Pasadena
Romantic
Pasadena
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bar Chelou offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food" and "amazing ambiance." Located near the Pasadena Playhouse, it's a perfect spot for pre-theatre meals. Diners rave about the "crispy potatoes" and "delicious cocktails." While the noise level can be high, the "friendly service" and inventive dishes make it a memorable visit.

439 Reviews

B
Bob
Los Angeles
25 reviews
vip
5.0
25 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great dining spot right adjacent to the Pasadena Playhouse. Don't let the menu through you off, each dish is spectacular, even if it doesn't sound appetizing . Carrot salad is great, clam toast is fabulous, crispy potatoes amazing, etc. etc. All very different but wonderful. The staff is also the best, very service oriented and friendly. Top pick if your going to the Playhouse for a show.
Is this helpful?
A
Abby
Los Angeles
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is always such a vibe and amazing experience. The team clearly loves being there, engaging with the guests, and the food is excellent. The room is gorgeous and parking is easy. Clam Toast, Crispy Potatoes, Carrots, Tempura Mushrooms (that sauce!!!), the TROUT and the Spinach, omg. The wine list is fantastic. Parking is easy. Go. Now. It’s the best.
Is this helpful?
S
Solita
Los Angeles
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best tapas around, It was like being in Spain again. Love the location, it’s right beside the Pasadena Playhouse. Great place for dinner before the show.
Is this helpful?
D
David
Los Angeles
27 reviews
5.0
27 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
What a great place with such great service. Every plate was gorgeous. Plus a dairy-free menu! Not to be redundant, but the service was outstanding.
Is this helpful?
N
Natasha
Los Angeles
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Every bite is to be savored. One sauce was better than the next - from the Tempura Wild Mushrooms to the Trout. Excellent service as well.
Is this helpful?
J
Jeannie
San Francisco
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food - lots of vegetarian options that are sufficient to make a meal. We've eaten here often and will continue to do so.
Is this helpful?
PE
PatriciaE
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our second visit to this wonderful spot, the ambiance was great, the service was superior, and the food was excellent. We reordered the crispy potatoes, and they did not disappoint, plus a cheese plate, the marinated olives, and the Pork Chop. All were outstanding and I could have eaten another Pork Chop it was so good. We love the idea is is a sharing dish selection, as there were three of us. Not to mention we ordered the caramel banana and lemon dessert. The banana was pretty, but the star was the lemon dessert. We will definitely go back.
Is this helpful?
C
Charles
Palm Springs
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 28, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Great place for innovative small plates and good wines.
Is this helpful?
m
michael
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 24, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Every dish was amazing. So much fun. The trout is incredible.
Is this helpful?
M
Martin
Los Angeles
417 reviews
4.0
417 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Bar Chelou is a very handsome space with a warm and festive vibe. The service from all staff is very friendly and professional. The cuisine, while very good, is somewhat limited in scope. I would’ve liked to see more fresh vegetable selections as well as more main entree choices. I also don’t like restaurants that have many two-tops arranged so that one member of the party faces a wall, limiting that diner’s appreciation of the full atmosphere. Those quibbles aside, it’s a very appealing place, maybe more for drinks than dining at this point.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Chelou is rated 4.8 stars by 439 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Bar Chelou

4.8

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Pasadena

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 11, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 39 times today

37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101-5220

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Located next to the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino Ave.
Neighborhood
Pasadena
Hours of operation
Daily 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Contemporary French, European, Spanish
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.barchelou.com/
Phone number
(626) 808-4976

Featured in

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles

Bar Chelou

Bar Chelou

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles

Ibérico Pork Chop

Rainbow Trout

Ramp Toast

Main

Marinated Olives$7.00

Pan de Cristal$7.00

Crispy Potatoes$13.00

Clam Toast$15.00

Burrata Toast$17.00

Ramp Toast$16.00

Breakfast Radish$13.00

Boquerones$14.00

Scallop Tartare$20.00

Salade Verte$15.00

Carrots$19.00

Bloomsdale Spinach$14.00

Shelling Beans$14.00

Sprouting Cauliflower$11.00

Snap Peas$15.00

Squid $21.00

Cheeses$22.00

Meats$24.00

Ibérico Pork Chop$36.00

Duck Leg$34.00

Rainbow Trout$45.00

Dry-Aged Short Rib$55.00

Lemon-Chamomile Semifreddo$14.00

Raspberry & Sumac Sorbet$14.00

Bruleed Cheesecake$14.00

Matcha Mousse$14.00

Caramelized Banana Bar$15.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Bar Chelou restaurant rated?

Is Bar Chelou currently accepting reservations?

Bar Chelou

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles